I’ve seen Closeness a few times at O’Leaver’s and have always been moved/impressed with their music, but last Friday night’s show at Slowdown Jr. was next-level in its drive and intensity and overall sound; best set I’ve seen/heard from this duo.

Todd and Orenda Fink set up in their usual face-to-face format aglow in floor floods and LEDs, looking like a couple Amish goth hipsters in their Recapitate headgear (I need to get one of those, sans big-round brim). There’s always a deep density to their sound but Friday’s set felt, well, denser, and had a better flow, enhanced by two new songs (or at least a couple numbers that aren’t on their EP) that were dramatic and dancible, breaking up the monotony of their usual mid-tempo onslaught.

I may be imagining this, but it seems as if Todd is taking more of a lead on the vocals these days, and if there’s a quibble it’s in the overuse of vocoder/digital effects (It was funny hearing him ask for less drums in the monitors in robot voice). Todd has a damn fine voice when it’s unincumbered by techology. But maybe Orenda is supposed to be the “human” to his “robot” on these futuristic duets?

With two new songs, you have to wonder if there’s a new release on the horizon for Closesness. But at the pace in which Todd writes, it could be awhile until we get something in hand, especially if The Faint are also back at it again (They’re slated to play at Cloak & Dagger Fest in LA Nov. 10).

Net at Slowdown Jr., Aug. 10, 2018.

Opening act Oklahoma City’s NET played a strong set of post-rock songs that reminded me of early Devo without their quirk. Fast, spazzy, stacatto rock augmented with synths, they fancy themselves an electronic act, but the guitars dominated from where I was standing. Too often the synths sounded like they were filling in gaps, adding to the clutter rather than enhancing the sound. Because of that, they felt stuck between being an electronic act and a prog-punk band.

Good crowd, though disappointing in size (around 60?).

Those Far Out Arrows at Petfest, Aug. 11, 2018.

Saturday’s Petfest crowd was small but mighty as well, at least when I was there around 7 p.m. to see Those Far Out Arrows play a bad-ass set behind the Petshop in the parking lot.

Bed Rest at Petfest, Aug. 11, 2018.

This is a fun to see a small fest, with a vibe that’s a cross between a SXSW day show and 1968 minus the LSD — laid-back people hanging out with beers behind an orange cyclone fence while some guy sprayed graffiti across the way. Bands played alternating sets inside the Petshop garage, including a roaring Bed Rest, who impressed me with their post-punk bordering on emo rock.

TFOA’s set consisted almost entirely of new songs from their soon-to-be-released High Dive Records debut that is bound to make your best-of-2018 list. I can’t wait to see what happens after these guys hit the road…

Kansas City’s High Dive Records today announced they’ve signed Omaha psych-rock band Those Far Out Arrows.

“Hailing from the Great Plains of America, Those Far Out Arrows reject the vacuous slogan of ‘Nebraska nice’ and deliver a bipolar pounding that is equal parts Crazy Horse and first wave punk,” said the release. “High-fiber grits served with a wink and a smile. Lyrics that question the status quo, shouts for answers, and declarations of indifference. Realizing that the only thing that matters is bringing the rock and leaving stains.”

High Dive Records was founded in 2013 by Jeff McCoy and originally focused on KC and Lawrence bands, but is in expansion mode. Their roster includes Dressy Bessy, Shy Boys, Fourth of July, The Burning Peppermints and The Whiffs.

TFOA’s Evan Keelan-White said they knew of the label through their friends’ bands, Arc Flash and Psychic Heat, both of which are on the High Dive roster. “I thought we’d give it a shot. (Jeff) dug the music and is really helping us out,” Keelan-White said.

He said the band’s High Dive debut was recorded in January and plans call for its release in October followed by work on a follow-up LP in November.

So is he excited about the signing? “Yeah for sure,” Keelan-White said. “I’ll be more excited once I finalize this October tour. But it’s getting there.”

If you haven’t heard these guys, you really need to. They’ve been kicking around since at least 2014 with an ever-evolving sound that would be right at home on the In the Red/Goner labels. Their low-fi approach combines styles as diverse as Them, Velvet Underground, Brian Jonestown Massacre and Flaming Groovies.

They’re scheduled to play Pet Fest at the Petshop Aug. 11, and Brothers Lounge Aug. 23 with Jason Steady and Okie act Cucumber & The Suntans.

Tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s Those Far Out Arrows headlines a show that includes Australian act Michael Beach. For the life of me, the only info I could find on Beach was his Bandcamp page (below). I like what I’m hearing. Nathan Ma also is on the bill. Show starts at 9 p.m. and is $5.

At The Waiting Room surf-punk twang-masters Southern Culture on the Skids headlines. It’s been a couple years since their last album, The Electric Pinecones, was released. I gotta believe they have new stuff up their sleeves. I know opening band Wagon Blasters definitely has some new material if not available than on the way. $20, 8 p.m.

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Meanwhile tonight at Burke’s Pub in Benson, the BFF crew is hosting a launch party for Omaha Gives (which is tomorrow). The stellar line-up includes Those Far Out Arrows, Hussies, FiFi NoNo and DJ Tyrone Storm. The fun starts at 8 p.m. and it’s free. More info here.

The wacky mix of show this weekend is a good way to say goodbye to the last gasps of winter. Put on your insulated hoodie and get out and see some shows.

Tonight at Reverb Lounge Chastity Belt headlines. The Seattle four-piece has had a couple records released on Hardly Art, including their last one, 2017’s I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone. Their music has those classic chiming indie guitars and dreamy, echoing vocals. Gorgeous stuff. Opener, Chicago’s Lala Lala, brings a ‘90s indie/grunge sound. $12, 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, Those Far Out Arrows return to The Brothers Lounge tonight with Sam Locke Ward and Sean Pratt and the Sweats. The Arrows have some new material that you need to hear. Watch for an upcoming album release announcement from these lads. $5, 9 p.m.

And since you’ll be in the neighborhood, the M34N ST33T album release “listening party” for Don Quixote’s Lance is tonight at The Hi-Fi House. You first read about the project here. The listening begins at 9:30 and is free.

Tomorrow night it’s back to The Brothers for Canadian garage rock duo The Pack A.D. Their music has been released on a variety of labels including Mint, Nettwerk and Cadence. Their latest, Dollhouse, came out last fall. Check it below. New Yorker Brook Pridemore and Natural States open at 9 p.m. $5.

No matter what happens to the Blackstone District — no matter what new restaurant or bar or business opens its doors, no matter how gentrified it becomes — there will always be The Brothers Lounge.

The Brothers has always been — is — and will always be an Omaha punk Mecca that remembers its past and welcomes its future with open arms. The Brothers is where you’ll find the best jukebox, the nicest staff and the coldest beer (though they quit selling Rolling Rock because, I was told, the last “regular” who ordered it died of a heart attack. I guess Trey either forgot that I drink Rolling Rock or I need to become a regular).

I can’t imagine Omaha without The Brothers, and hopefully I’ll never have to. I write this because in an effort to keep up with all the new-fangled businesses (including yet another new bar that opened practically right under them) The Brothers has been beefing up its live music bookings lately. This past weekend featured back-to-back showcases Friday and Saturday night.

I made it to Saturday night’s three-band bill, figuring I’d miss the opening act (hey, Black Panther is a long friggin’ movie), but there was John Wolf and and Co. belting out the magic at 10:30 p.m. The band is Bad Bad Men, featuring legendary punker Wolf fronting a power trio rounded out by drummer Chris Siebken and bass player Jerry Hug. Saturday night’s show was their debut, but you’d never guess judging by how tightly they played.

Bad Bad Men is a natural continuation of the style of music Wolf has been playing for more than 20 years, reaching back to acts like Cellophane Ceiling and Bad Luck Charm. The only difference is in the economy of arrangements (BBM is a mean, lean fighting machine) and Wolf’s growl, which has grown into a brash, guttural bray that cuts through the band’s back-beat swing.

At times BBM felt like high-energy boogie blues punk, somewhat rootsier than Bad Luck Charm’s ’90s-influenced Ameri-alt-rock sound (can you believe Viva La Sinners came out 17 years ago?). The music chugged along like a high-ballin’ locomotive powered by the Siebken/Hug rhythm section and Wolf’s blazing riffs. The band closed out its set with a brutal cover of Warsaw’s “No Love Lost” (compliments to Dr. Sheehan for pointing this out) that was the perfect capper to a perfect debut. More to come.

The Lupines at The Brothers Lounge Feb. 19, 2018.

Next up was The Lupines, who played a solid set that included a few songs off their most recent collection, Mountain of Love (2017, Speed Nebraska). They closed with a long burner that I wouldn’t have minded had it gone on for 20 minutes. It was good to once again see guitarist Mike Friedman ripping alongside frontman John Ziegler and hearing his crazy leads laced throughout the songs.

Those Far Out Arrows at The Brothers Feb. 17, 2018.

Finally, Those Far Out Arrows hit the stage well past midnight. The band had played The Replay Lounge in Lawrence just the night before, and could be the next break-out act to grab national attention thanks to their take on garage psych-rock. If you haven’t seen these guys lately, do yourself a favor. They have a West Coast/San Francisco style reminiscent of ’90s-’00s acts like Brian Jonestown Massacre, BRMC and The Warlocks. but with a nod to bands that go back even further and farther (Them, Small Faces, etc.).

Unfortunately their set got cut short when first the bass drum pedal broke and then the bass drum head broke. These things happen. You’ll get a chance to catch them again when they open for White Mystery March 4 at fabulous O’Leaver’s.

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Tonight Nashville band Blank Range headlines at Reverb Lounge. Rolling Stone named them one of the “10 New Country Bands You Need to Know” though I’d classify their sound as leaning more toward alt-country/Americana than straight up C&W. Think Jason Isbell or Sturgill Simpson but with less twang. Frankly, they remind me more of The Band than anyone else, and are keeping their options open by opening shows for everyone from Spoon to Drive-By Truckers to Black Joe Lewis. Evan Bartles opens tonight at 8 p.m. $10.

Tonight at fabulous O’Leaver’s it’s a benefit for DREAMers in the state of Nebraska through Nebraska Appleseed. Your donation ($5 minimum please) not only helps a good cause but gets you in to see four solid bands: Those Far Out Arrows, The Sunks, Megan Siebe & Sean Pratt and Practices. 10 p.m. start time. Do it for the kids.

Tomorrow night (Saturday) it’s back to O’Leaver’s for Denver’s Bud Bronson and the Good Timers. Joining them are The Beat Seekers and Mint Wad Wally. $8, 9 p.m.

Also Saturday night, Benson bars are once again hosting the Omaha Entertainment and Awards Awards Showcase. Participating venues are The Waiting Room, Reverb Lounge, Barley Street Tavern, Burke’s Pub, The Sydney and 402 Collective. You get 40+ bands for $10. Starts at 7. For full band listing, go to the Facebook event listing here.

Is that it? Yeah, that’s it. If I missed your show, put it in the comments section. Have a great weekend.

I’m giving this show short shrift due to time limitations, etc., i.e. I’m probably not giving the bands their due. And I’m going at this chronologically rather than by how the bands were billed, i.e., I’m starting with the opener, Those Far Out Arrows (or TFOAs in lazy shorthand), because for me, they were the highlight of the evening, closely followed by the band in the middle, Ron Gallo, with the headliner, Butternotes, trotting home in third.

TFOAs has evolved over the past year or so to a tight garage band with deep psych-rock leanings influenced by bands as diverse as Them and Velvet Underground. You’ll hear just how much they’ve evolved if you listen to their early, drone-filled cassettes and contrast it to their current thick-beat guitar rock that’s as good or better than anything I’ve heard on Goner or In the Red.

You knew last night at Slowdown Jr. the band was getting to this very young crowd (who, btw, likely never heard of TFOAs prior to this show) when the pack in front of the stage naturally erupted into a pseudo-mosh pit, pushing and shoving and jumping along with one of the band’s mid-set songs. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen that at a garage-rock show.

Right now TFOAs is looking for someone to press a new 7-inch and has plans to enter ARC studio for a full-length in the very near future. Keep an eye on them.

Ron Gallo at Slowdown Jr., Aug. 8, 2017.

I was told by a Slowdown staffer that last night’s young crowd was there for Gallo, though my source wasn’t sure why. I have no idea, either. Maybe Gallo’s stage charisma precedes him. He and his band played a lively set of garage rock that got the crowd moving (and yeah, there was more moshing. I guess moshing is a thing again?).

The Buttertones at Slowdown Jr., Aug. 8, 2017.

Finally on came The Buttertones, a big ensemble with a guy who played some tasty tenor sax (which made everything work). A tight act, it was too easy to hear their influences. Derivative? Yeah, but isn’t all rock music derivative to some extent? Their failing was in their lack of original song structure — I felt like I’d heard it all before. But what the band lacked in originality the frontman made up in swagger. Let’s see where they are in three years.

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Tonight at Pageturners, hardcore act Jocko opens for the Sucettes at Pageturners Lounge. This one’s free and starts at 10.

But not just any BFF. Tonight marks the five-year anniversary for BFF. To celebrate, the BFF crew is hosting a giant group photo at the corner of Military and Maple streets at 6:15 p.m.. All businesses, community members, artists, bands and patrons are invited to get in the photo. Don’t forget to say “cheese.”

Musicwise, The Sydney is the place to be for BFF. Tonight Those Far Out Arrows headlines with Thick Paint and The Sam’s Martin (uh, is Sam Martin in this band?). The free show starts at 10 p.m.

Also tonight, if you’re in the neighborhood, stop into The Little Gallery, just across the street and down a little ways from The Sydney in the Masonic Lodge Building. Tonight’s show is “Switch It Up,” by Courtney Kenny Porto. Light Switch Covers = art. Read about the show here. We’re open 6 to 9 p.m. Beer provided, and food and stuff. Stop in!

Tomorrow night (Saturday), Minnesota one-man trash rocker Jaw Knee Ver is at Brothers Lounge. Joining him are Sean Pratt & The Sweats and Iowa City’s Hot Tang. No price listed on this one but I’m guessing it’s around $5 and starts at 9 p.m.

Also Saturday night, Lincoln band The Ambulanters headlines at fabulous O’Leaver’s Joining them are fellow Lincolnites Universe Contest and our very own indie punkers Uh Oh. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Apologies for my lack of updates the last couple of days. I’ve been working on a massive 5,000-word article for The Reader‘s Music Issue, which comes out next month. These deadlines, they’re killing me…

Today is the day when the city’s non-profit organizations take hat in hand and ask for your support. Of course I’m talking about Omaha Gives, the annual city-wide non-profit fund drive.

Among the local non-profit music organizations I’ll be donating to (which means you should donate to them as well) are:

Hear Nebraska — As a former HN Board member I know what good the organization does. As a music fan, musician or music-related business, you should know that Executive Director Andrew Norman and his team tirelessly do everything possible to promote Nebraska music. Among their primary projects are The Good Life Tour, Lincoln Calling and assorted programs that support the scene. They’ve got some massive plans in the works this year (and next) so get in on the ground floor by making your tax-deductible donation. If you want to find out more, swing by Omaha Bicycle Club in Benson, where the Hear Nebraska team will be camped out throughout the day coordinating their Omaha Gives efforts. Make your donation here.

Omaha Girls Rock! — The organization that’s all about empowering the area youth is still going strong. Help put a guitar or set of drumsticks in a young girl’s hands. Donate here.

Maha Music Festival — The state’s primary music festival has its best line-up ever for this year’s concert. But they still need cash to pull it off. Give here.

Geeze, this is one of my most expensive days of the year for me. Here are a few other organizations you should consider giving to:

NPR’s All Songs Considered did a nice little write-up on David Nance’s upcoming album Negative Boogie (Ba Da Bing Records), calling it “spastic dance music for rock ‘n’ roll deviants, a jabbing pointer finger at the soullessness of the pixelated present, blown out and blown up like a basement tape.” The record comes out in July. Check out a track below.

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San Francisco garage-rock band Cool Ghouls headlines a show tonight at Brothers Lounge. The band has released records and cassettes on Burger, Empty Cellar, Melodic and P-Vine. Our very own Those Far Out Arrows opens the show. $5, 9 p.m.